Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In our first reading we hear of the testing of Abraham, or as it is also known, the binding of Isaac. Abraham’s test remains quite difficult, indeed a test, for all those who have contemplated Genesis 22. Some consider here an implicit belief that Abraham may have that God can raise Isaac back to life. Others point out that by subsequently stopping the sacrifice, God is teaching Abraham (and others surrounded by cultures in which child sacrifice is demanded) that true worship of the Lord will stand completely opposed to such practices.
What we may quite fruitfully contemplate, however, are Abraham’s explicit words of faith in response to Isaac’s question about the sacrifice to be offered: “God himself will provide the sheep for the burnt offering.” (Gen 22:8) In the midst of people today (both those who claim to believe in God and those who deny such belief) who contrast faith and rationality, it is very important for Catholics to contemplate this response of Abraham. Some may wish to describe Abraham’s belief as a faith which is completely irrational, since they indeed cannot find any reason for the possible sacrifice of Isaac. In Søren Aabye Kierkegaard’s reflection on this passage, he call’s Abraham’s faith “absurd”, or a great “leap”. The Church, however, does not understand faith and rationality as conflicting, so there must be a harmony of the two, particularly here where Abraham, called “our father in faith” by Catholics, is in the midst of the supreme demonstration of faith. See Saint Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Fides et Ratio for a clear understanding of the compatibility of faith and reason. The words of Abraham show his complete confidence in God’s Providence. It is confidence in God’s Providence which is completely rational. It is thoroughly reasonable to trust in God, since God can indeed do all things.
In the Gospel we see why Abraham’s example of faith is needed. Those surrounding Jesus as he forgives a paralyzed man of his sins are full of doubts about his ability to restore a soul from sin. Since Jesus knows the steadfastness of their doubt may be shaken by seeing a physical change which they thought impossible, He provides the paralyzed man and them with the miracle which will help both. Thus the crowd can begin to see the unreasonableness of not trusting Jesus’ power to restore a person (body and soul) to wholeness. This miracle may be of particular help to us in the United States as we take today to celebrate Independence. True independence is not that which separates us from others, from relationships; rather it is that which frees us from irrational, unhealthy dependency on sin and isolation. May we always trust in Jesus, the sacrifice which God has provided, who gives us such true independence and freedom.